Asphalt AthleticsAtletismo del asfalto

Asphalt Athletics

Asphalt Green partners with public schools through its Community Sports League (CSL).

They’re stepping it up.

In February 2015, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) was found to be in violation of Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal opportunities for educational programs or activities.

Following a complaint by the National Women’s Law Center, it was determined that the DOE was not providing enough opportunities for girls to play sports in public schools.

Since then, the DOE has been adding more high school teams for females.

Asphalt Green, a nonprofit that helps over 33,000 public school children a year become more physically fit, recognized the importance of getting middle school girls involved in team sports to better prepare them for high school.

“It’s widely knows that middle school girls tend to drop out of high school sports,” said Beth Rotenberg, Sports League Manager for Asphalt Green. At age 14, the sports drop-out rate is six times higher for girls than boys, Rotenberg said.

“As boys are ramping up with sports, girls are dropping out, largely due to the lack of opportunities,” she added.

Asphalt Green partners with New York City public schools through its Community Sports League (CSL), which provide students with the chance to play in basketball, soccer and flag football leagues.

“We tend to work with schools in low-income neighborhoods, where there is greater poverty and people tend to have more health issues,” Rotenberg said.

Launched in 2009, the CSL now operates at 19 public schools, many in the Bronx and Northern Manhattan, serving more than 700 middle school students.

The group’s “girls only” basketball and soccer leagues are designed to get females more interested in sports.

Asphalt Green provides free uniforms and referees for games, as well as instructional clinics, team trophies and an award celebration.

Schools must provide a staff member to coach and recruit players.

“There’s so much that girls get from team sports,” said Rotenberg. “In addition to improving their fitness, the girls learn collaboration, self-confidence and conflict resolution.”

The group’s “girls only” leagues are designed to get females more interested in sports.

In additional to the CSL, Asphalt Green has sports campuses on the Upper East Side and Battery Park City, and runs free programs in schoolyards, gymnasiums, and pools throughout the city.

Alex Del Rosario, Coach of the CSL girls’ basketball team at P.S. 161 Pedro Albizu Campos in Harlem, said that his players learn leadership abilities and the value of teamwork after joining the squad.

“They’re there to support each other,” remarked Del Rosario. “They feel if one person fails, they’ve all failed.”

“I believe that playing for the team has made me more of a leader and taught me that your teammates depend on you,” commented Yalisce, a seventh-grade player on Rosario’s team.

The P.S. 161 team features 12 players in grade six through eight. Del Rosario said his players go to study hall twice a week.

“You’re a student first and an athlete second,” he remarked.

“It’s helped me to get better grades,” said seventh-grader player Jasmine.

Rotenberg said that establishing a student/athlete balance is one of the goals of the CSL.

This season, the P.S. 161 girls’ basketball team made it to the Final Four of the league playoffs.

“We’re trying to prepare them for the reality of high school sports – doing your homework, getting good grades,” stated Rotenberg.

This season, the P.S. 161 girls’ basketball team made it to the Final Four of the league playoffs.

Players said that they were grateful that the CSL provided opportunities for girls’ sports.

“I’ve gained a lot from playing here,” observed Jasmine. “I want to continue playing in high school.”